8 BALL - A true test for world class players?

TheOne

TheOne

www.MetroPool.club
Silver Member
On one of my recent visits to the states I got chatting to a well respected member of this forum about 8 ball. I mentioned that I love the game and I always thought it strange that since most of the worlds recreational player play 8 ball that it wasn't the TV game of choice. I was a little suprised to here that some of the old legends of the game thought that 8 ball wasn't as difficult as 9 ball (or a true test for world class players).

I wasn't sure I agreed with this but with all the buzz around 8 ball recently I dusted down my cue and had a session yesterday. I played the 8 ball ghost race to 10. I played the cue ball from where it came to rest after the break everytime and won 10-1 (sadly I hooked myself on the final 8 ball at 9:0 for the whitewash!)

My feeling is that top would class players would prob beat the 8 ball ghost 85-15 or more if they played 100 racks. I'm now starting to believe playing the 8 ball ghost is indeed easier than playing 9 ball ghost, therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
 
I think the pro's who have played exclusive 9ball are in for a ride :)

8 ball is my first choice of poison.
 
8 ball is only as easy as your ability to view patterns, plan breakouts, and maneuver the rock through tight spaces.

Different skills than 9 ball, IMO, though the ability to choose the order of the balls yourself and change your strategy mid-game does make it seem easier at times.
 
8-Ball...

I agree Mr W.,

I think 8-Ball, Tight Pockets and Nap Cloth...coupled with COMPETITION & $$$$...In a 3 Set, Race to 9...is going to give some people headaches...I Can't Wait! ;) , This may be especially troublesome if they are Old Pros coming back to the Tour, or Current Pros that really don't have an 8-Ball background...I think Ultimately everyone will get up to speed though...and the Cream will Rise...
 
TheOne said:
On one of my recent visits to the states I got chatting to a well respected member of this forum about 8 ball. I mentioned that I love the game and I always thought it strange that since most of the worlds recreational player play 8 ball that it wasn't the TV game of choice. I was a little suprised to here that some of the old legends of the game thought that 8 ball wasn't as difficult as 9 ball (or a true test for world class players).

I wasn't sure I agreed with this but with all the buzz around 8 ball recently I dusted down my cue and had a session yesterday. I played the 8 ball ghost race to 10. I played the cue ball from where it came to rest after the break everytime and won 10-1 (sadly I hooked myself on the final 8 ball at 9:0 for the whitewash!)

My feeling is that top would class players would prob beat the 8 ball ghost 85-15 or more if they played 100 racks. I'm now starting to believe playing the 8 ball ghost is indeed easier than playing 9 ball ghost, therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
Click to expand...

Who knows? Kelly Fisher ran out the first four racks from the break yesterday when we were practicing 8 Ball. Her repsonse, "quite easy with an open table."

John
 
Well I am talking about 9 ball tables, and obviosly not all racks are open, most seem to have at least 1 problem depending on your break of course. I do love the creativity in 8 ball. I was playing a pro 9 ball player once on the bar boxes at 8 ball and I could see all the decissions where melting his brain. He just came out and said "aghh, to many decissions I don't know where to start lol!"

Its going to be good to watch though :D
 
TheOne said:
On one of my recent visits to the states I got chatting to a well respected member of this forum about 8 ball. I mentioned that I love the game and I always thought it strange that since most of the worlds recreational player play 8 ball that it wasn't the TV game of choice. I was a little suprised to here that some of the old legends of the game thought that 8 ball wasn't as difficult as 9 ball (or a true test for world class players).

I wasn't sure I agreed with this but with all the buzz around 8 ball recently I dusted down my cue and had a session yesterday. I played the 8 ball ghost race to 10. I played the cue ball from where it came to rest after the break everytime and won 10-1 (sadly I hooked myself on the final 8 ball at 9:0 for the whitewash!)

My feeling is that top would class players would prob beat the 8 ball ghost 85-15 or more if they played 100 racks. I'm now starting to believe playing the 8 ball ghost is indeed easier than playing 9 ball ghost, therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
Click to expand...

I think you answered the question with your 10-1 score. I never play 8 ball and I don't know the patterns but I figured I would try it. I broke twice and ran out twice, that isn't likely to happen in 9 ball and I bet you wouldn't beat the ghost in 9 ball 10-1 even with ball in hand after the break. The top pros are going to be scary good even with the few things attempting to slow them down, they better have an alternate break format or there are going to be matches where a person doesn't get to the table at all.

There are going to be about 10-20 players of the 150 who are only going to play in 1 event after they realize they are way, way out of their class. You can dream of glory and practice forever but if you aren't world class you are going to get a whupping, for the kind of money involved the pros are not going to hold anything back and their talent level is way to high to have a problem running out when they have multiple choices, so you are going to see a lot of whitewashes of the players picked who just don't belong. (You can forget most of the 8 ball strategy because the main strategy is going to be break and runout.)

Wayne
 
This just proves to me that 8-ball is an easier game than 9-ball, on full size tables and for the top players. I believe that anyone at or above the open level can beat anyone else in the world, long sets/short sets whatever.

Very, very, very bad rubric of pool skills among the pros, imho. They should've made it harder by playing 10-ball, instead they reverted to a simpler (albeit fun) game, and tried to tweak the equipment (which makes no sense) to add unfavorable variables, in the hope of basically tripping up the players...which won't happen!

-Roger (I have zero support for this idiot's idea of a pool tour, million dollar payday or not)
 
Playing 8 Ball on 9 foot table is a joke

:
TheOne said:
therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
Click to expand...

Howdy,
Playing 8 Ball on 9 foot table is a joke to a pro player.It is more a BUNTING game.Long time ago in one my posts I mentioned that these old retired hall of famers that are invited to play in IPT will not find any difficulty to play with the current,young pros.That is because u do not have to shoot many long shots or difficult angles.Compared to 9 ball,1pocket 8 Ball is a very easy game for pro level player. Playing 8 Ball on a 7 foot table is a whole different thing.:cool:
 
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TheOne,
I very much doubt you could keep up that average of 10-1, even over 80%, but if you can, you better be making your way to the qualifying events. Based on what I know of the Sigel v LJJ match, you would have cleaned him up about 9-4, 9-4 shooting at that level.

I'll record some stats while at the KIH next week.
1. Percentage of run outs from first shot after the break.
2. Percentage of breaks with ball made (without scratch).

I'll be suprised to see higher than 70% averages on either.

btw: These would be great stats for the IPT to collect on all players, and give the general population something to compare their abilities to.
 
Easier?

Of course 8-ball is easier. You have far too many options in 8-ball and many paterns to choose from.
The tweaked equipment is going to make some difference in the beginning, but not that much. They will adjust and adjust quickly.
They chose 8-ball not because they thought it was a tougher game, but because it is the game most of the American public is familiar with.
I can't wait for the 1st time someone dogs a ball and the announcers jump on the fact that it is the tough equipment. The equioment is going to come into play when the reality sets in. Once they realize that they are here and playing for more money than they ever dreamt of, then, the equipment is going to seem a bit more difficult.
8-ball, the test a true world class player? I hardly think so. Every May in Vegas there are hundreds running out playing 8-ball who can't play even a little bit.
To the fellow who beat the 8-ball ghost 10-1, you must be the best player on the planet.
 
Excuse Me?

8-ball bernie said:
8-ball is a true test of pattern play, which does not exist in 9-ball.
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I have been playing 9-ball for over 30 years and that is the 1st time I ever heard that.
 
You all are too good for my set. 10 to 1 against the ghost means you broke and ran 10 racks and only missed out on breaking and running once. You are a world beater. I don't care who you are playing if you can keep them in the seat like that no one has a chance.

What is your high run in straight pool? It must even be easier because you can shoot in any ball.

Try Drivemakers Tournament. It should be very easy because you can shoot any ball until the last 5. I am sure there will be a lot of 1000 pointers posted.

I guess if it is going to be this easy all we will see is a one player show. Apparently the match will depend on who wins the lag.
 
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This is just my opinion, but I think the secret to 8 Ball, and what I did not see in the LJJ vs Sigel match is knowing how to play good shot safeties. It's not always about cue ball control for your next shot, but also thinking about where that cue ball is going to wind up should you, god forbid, fail to pocket a ball.
I play some pretty darn fine shooters here locally, and I often have them scratching their heads, because I will not, if at all possible, leave them a clear and open shot at any of their balls on the table. It leaves me often with more ball-in-hand opportunities, will will lead to more wins.
I have never had one complaint with my game from any player, and in fact, win or lose, I am often congratulated for playing a tough game. If the game isn't a challenge, it will soon become boring.
As a side note, I really got give kudos to R Givens for writing the book "The 8 Ball Bible". While it tends to focus primarily on 8 Ball on 7ft tables, his basic theories on pattern play and shot safeties have been invaluable to me, and have taken my 8 Ball game to a whole new level.

Lisa
 
Was it just me, or did anyone seem to noticed that LJJ and Sigel were playing 8 Ball with a 9 Ball approach? I actually found the match kinda boring. I have never seen so many open shot opportunities left by both for their opponent. Just my observation.

Lisa...who loves both 8 and 9 Ball for totally different reasons. :)
 
Are you serious?

vagabond said:
:

Howdy,
Playing 8 Ball on 9 foot table is a joke to a pro player.It is more a BUNTING game.Long time ago in one my posts I mentioned that these old retired hall of famers that are invited to play in IPT will not find any difficulty to play with the current,young pros.That is because u do not have to shoot many long shots or difficult angles.Compared to 9 ball,1pocket 8 Ball is a very easy game for pro level player. Playing 8 Ball on a 7 foot table is a whole different thing.:cool:
Click to expand...


They don't play on 7 ftrs. because it bores them to tears!
 
TheOne said:
On one of my recent visits to the states I got chatting to a well respected member of this forum about 8 ball. I mentioned that I love the game and I always thought it strange that since most of the worlds recreational player play 8 ball that it wasn't the TV game of choice. I was a little suprised to here that some of the old legends of the game thought that 8 ball wasn't as difficult as 9 ball (or a true test for world class players).

I wasn't sure I agreed with this but with all the buzz around 8 ball recently I dusted down my cue and had a session yesterday. I played the 8 ball ghost race to 10. I played the cue ball from where it came to rest after the break everytime and won 10-1 (sadly I hooked myself on the final 8 ball at 9:0 for the whitewash!)

My feeling is that top would class players would prob beat the 8 ball ghost 85-15 or more if they played 100 racks. I'm now starting to believe playing the 8 ball ghost is indeed easier than playing 9 ball ghost, therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
Click to expand...
I agree 100%. 8 ball is easier. I also adore 8 ball. I prefer it to all other games. But I also agree it to be easier on the 9 footers. Many of the posts following yours missed the point of what you were saying. Just some thoughts.
 
TheOne said:
On one of my recent visits to the states I got chatting to a well respected member of this forum about 8 ball. I mentioned that I love the game and I always thought it strange that since most of the worlds recreational player play 8 ball that it wasn't the TV game of choice. I was a little suprised to here that some of the old legends of the game thought that 8 ball wasn't as difficult as 9 ball (or a true test for world class players).

I wasn't sure I agreed with this but with all the buzz around 8 ball recently I dusted down my cue and had a session yesterday. I played the 8 ball ghost race to 10. I played the cue ball from where it came to rest after the break everytime and won 10-1 (sadly I hooked myself on the final 8 ball at 9:0 for the whitewash!)

My feeling is that top would class players would prob beat the 8 ball ghost 85-15 or more if they played 100 racks. I'm now starting to believe playing the 8 ball ghost is indeed easier than playing 9 ball ghost, therefore logically this would mean that 8 ball is an easier game than 9 ball?

What doess everyone else think? (PS I still ADORE 8 ball)
Click to expand...

If a semi-good player like me is able to play almost perfect 8-ball and still be relatively bad in 9-ball, it has to be the fact that 8-ball is easier. I've played many sets of 8-ball in which I've made only a single mistake or no mistakes at all. It all comes down to the break. I'd say if a pro makes a ball on the break, he's 70%-90% favourite to run the rest of the rack. If a pro makes a ball on a 9-ball break, the percentage is much lower because there's only one object ball at the table (not talking about playing the ghost here). This plethora of choices is the one and only thing that makes 8-ball sooo easy.

Too much emphasis on the break, and I can't blame the pros for not liking the 8-ball. It's just too easy and making a ball on the break is a toss of coin sometimes.
 
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